Adjustable child&#39;s shoe



g- 4, 1964 H. F. WATERS 3,142,911

ADJUSTABLE CHILD S SHOE Filed May 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 EN HARRY F WATERS ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1964 H. F. WATERS 3,142,911 ADJUSTABLE CHILD'S SHOE Filed May 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvrox F/G: 4 HARRY E WATERS ATTORNEY 64 H. F. WATERS 3,142,911

ADJUSTABLE CHILD'S SHOE Filed May 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVHVTOR. F/@ 5 HARRY F WATERS ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1964 H. F. WATERS 3,142,911

ADJUSTABLE CHILD S SHOE Filed May 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. HARRY F WATERS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,142,911 ADJUSTABLE CHILDS SHOE Harry F. Waters, Room 1731, Roosevelt Hotel, 45 E. 45th St., New York, N.Y.; Jessie H. Raborg, executrix of said Harry F. Waters, deceased Filed May 5, 1961, Ser. No. 107,973 3 Claims. (Q1. 36-25) This invention relates to foot coverings, such as shoes, and is more specifically concerned with shoes for children, particularly infants.

As is well known to every parent, infants and small children outgrow their shoes long before the shoes are worn out. As a result, such shoes must be discarded when they still have a large proportion of their useful life remaining. However, since these shoes are of a fixed size, the parent has no alternative but to discard the outgrown shoe and to purchase a new shoe every time his childs feet grow a size. There is, therefore, an important need for a shoe for infants and small children which can be varied in size to accommodate the childs growing feet. There have been some prior proposals in this field but they have not been generally satisfactory. A shoe of this type must not only be capable of being increased in size but it also must provide a firm, snug support for the childs feet and it also must provide for proper adjustment in size so that such adjustment can be regulated in a predetermined manner so that it does not rely on guesswork on the part of the parent. Prior proposals have generally failed to meet these criteria. In addition, some prior proposals have involved the use of multiple parts and have been of a generally complex construction which has rendered them uneconomical to manufacture.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a childs shoe which is adapted to be worn over a prolonged period of foot growth.

It is another object of the invention to provide a childs shoe of the character indicated which provides firm and sung support at all times and in various adjusted sizes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an adjustable childs shoe which can be adjusted in predetermined size increments, both in width and length.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an adjustable shoe which is free from complex constructional features.

It is another object of the invention to provide a foot covering of improved construction.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in accordance with this invention by a foot covering in the nature of a shoe formed from a blank cut to define a sole portion, a toe portion, side portions, and a heel portion adapted to be folded into pleats when the blank is set up and stitched or secured in other manner to form the shoe. The side portions and heel portions are suitably formed with eyelets to receive lacings and the blank is adapted to cooperate with a sole insert which has a rigid body conforming to the minimum size of the shoe and rearwardly-extending integral, longitudinally-aligned extensions secured to each other along flexible fold lines.

It is a feature of the invention that the size adjustments in the shoe are automatically predetermined so that guesswork on the part of the parent is eliminated.

It is a further feature of the invention that a plurality of size adjustments can be eifected in the shoe without sacrificing firm and snug support for the childs feet.

Other objects and features will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings, wherein- 3,142,911 Patented Aug. 4, 19fi4 FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shoe in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan View of a sole insert or liner for cooperating with the sole and heel portions of the shoe shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a similar view of blanks from which the shoe of FIGS. 1 and 2 is suitably formed;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main shoe blank of FIG. 4 with the sole insert of FIG. 3 secured to it;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the shoe showing it extended to a maximum size;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of blanks for another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a sole adapter embodying features of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the adapter taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 4, the blank illustrated is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. Blank It is formed from a flat piece of flexible material such as leather, fabric or plastic sheeting, e.g. polyethylene, vinyl sheeting, and the like, and is shaped to define a sole portion 12, a heel portion 14, the sole portion cooperating with an element defining a toe portion 16 having a tongue extension 13, and side portions 20. As seen in FIG. 1, the sides 21 0f the toe portion are secured, e.g. by stitching to the cooperating sides 22 of the sole portion and along sides 23 of the side portions, when the blank and the toe element are assembled into a shoe. The side portions are formed with eyelets 24 to receive a lacing 25. The heel portion 14 is formed with a rear tongue extension 26 to the sides 27 of which the sides 28 of the side portions 29 are secured, e.g. by stitching, as seen in FIG. 1. When the tongue extension 26 is bent upwardly to form the shoe back, it defines a pleat 29. The adjacent portions of elements 21) and 26 are formed with eyelets 3i? and 32, respectively, to receive a lacing 35, and the tongue extension further includes a central eyelet 33.

As will be seen in the drawings, the tongue extension 26 and the heel portion 14 merge smoothly into the sole portion 12 of the shoe and, as seen in FIG. 6, which shows the shoe expanded to its maximum size, they readily accommodate the size increases which can be effected with the shoe. The free edges of the side portions 20 and of the rear tongue extension 26 are suitably retroverted and adhesively secured, as indicated at 36 and 37 in order to provide a smooth edge.

Cooperating with the sole and heel portions of the blank 10 in the assembled shoe is an insert or liner 40 which has a main body portion 42 generally conforming in shape and size to the sole portion 12 of the blank. Extending rearwardly from the body portion 42 are a series of integral extensions 42a, 42b, and 42c, each integrally connected to the other along fold lines 44 and separated laterally by V-shaped cut-outs 45 to permit them to fit together as they overlie the heel portion 14. each of the extensions has a dimension from fold line to fold line corresponding to a /2 childs shoe size. Thus, when the body portion 42 of the insert overlies the sole portion 12 of the blank 10 and the extensions 42a-42c overlie the heel portion 14, with the insert bent upwardly along the fold line 46, the shoe is adjusted for its minimum size. To adjust the shoe for increased sizes, the rear lacing 35 is loosened and the heel portion, with the associated part of the insert, is allowed to lie flat on a plane with the sole portion 12 by an amount equal to the width of an insert extension for each half size of adjustment. The lacing 35 is then tied to correspond to the new size. It will be seen that the lacing, by passing through the center eyelet 33, pulls the tongue extension outwardly so that it does not interfere with the insertion of the foot into the shoe.

The relationship of the side portions to the heel portion and to the rear tongue extension 26 is such that there is provided a snug fit for the heel and sides of the foot for all sizes of the shoe but there is freedom from binding or cramping of the foot. At the same time, the lacing and the relationship of the side portions to the forward tongue make it possible to provide for the increasing size of the instep and forward portion of the foot, while maintaining a snug fit at all times. The front portion of the insert is sufficiently wide to accommodate the maximum foot size for which the shoe is built. It will be understood that the front of the side portions overlie part of the front tongue extension, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In this way the shoe can be adjusted for a plurality of shoe sizes so that the shoe will accurately and comfortably fit the childs foot as it grows from size to size.

In addition, the front end of the insert 40 has integral fingers 48 which are bent upwardly to form a reinforcement for the toe of the shoe, to prevent any pressure or tension on the toes of the wearers foot so that it is free for unrestrained growth. The fingers are separated by V- shaped cut-outs 50 when the insert is fiat to permit the fingers to fit together when the fingers are placed at right angles to the insert body 42, as shown in FIG. 5. The insert is suitably attached to the sole and heel portions of the shoe blank 10 by adhesives, e.g. rubber cement, or other convenient means. The insert is advantageously formed from leather, fiberboard, or the like. In any case, it is relatively stiff in comparison with the body of the shoe but is freely bendable along the fold lines indicated. It will be understood that while three insert extensions have been provided in the embodiment illustrated, additional extensions may be provided to permit further size adjustments. In this case the heel and side portions of the blank are further elongated rearwardly to accommodate the additional extensions.

In the foregoing, reference has been made to securing the portions of the shoe blank by means of stitching. Where, however, the material from which the blank is made permits, other securing means may be employed. For example, the portions may be joined by means of an adhesive or by heat-sealing, the latter procedure being particularly suited when the material is a plastic e.g. vinyl sheeting, polyethylene, and the like. Indeed, in FIG. 7, there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention which is particularly constructed for heat-seal joining of the associated parts. Thus, referring to FIG. 7, the blank 110 illustrated has a sole portion 112 and side portions 120, a heel portion 114 with an integral heel extension 126. The blank 111, which is heat-sealed to the front of the sole portion 112 along the joint 115 defines a toe portion 116 including an integral front tongue 118. The edges 121, 122 of the toe portion and tongue, respectively, are adapted to be secured by heatsealing to the edges 123 and 124 of the side portions 120. Similarly, the edges 127 of the rear extension 126 are adapted to be heat-sealed to the edges 128 of the side portions 120. Heat-sealing is suitably affected in conventional manner by bringing the edges into overlapping relationship and applying heat with a heat-sealing device. If desired, the joined portions may be heatsealed to a sutficient extent that the heat-sealing extends inwardly of the eyelets 125, 130 and 132 so that a waterproof enclosure is formed. Indeed, some of the eyelets may be omitted if desired, particularly those closest to the sole of the blank.

In the blanks illustrated, the toe portion has been shown as stitched or otherwise secured to the front of the sole portion, but the two portions may be integrally related in a single blank, if desired.

In the use of the shoe of this invention, I advantageously employ sole adapters which are intended to be applied over the insert or liner 40 as the shoe is gradually enlarged to meet the requirement of the increasing size of the wearers foot. Thus, as seen in FIG. 5, an adapter 69 overlies the sole portion of the insert 40 and overlies the integral extension 4201, i.e. it corresponds to the sole size which is one-half size larger than the minimum size for which the shoe is constructed. In the use of these adapters, I provide a set of adapters each differing in length by a half size corresponding to the half sizes designated by the integral extensions of the liner 40. These adapters are applied over the liner 40 and have the advantage of reinforcing the sole and at the same time of providing a different guide and fulcrum edge for the upward bending of the extensions along the desired fold line to insure accurate formation of the rear of the shoe as it is changed from size to size. The insert shown in position FIG. 5 corresponds to the first of the series and, as mentioned, it overlies the sole portion of the insert as well as the first integral extension. The next adapter in the series will overlie the sole portion and the first and second integral extensions, i.e. the extensions 42a and 42b. The third adapter is shown in FIG. 8 and is designated 62. This adapter is of a length to overlie not only the sole portion of insert 49 but extensions 42a, 42b and 42c as well. It will be seen that these adapters also have an increasing width so that they provide a fulcrum edge for the upward folding of the side portions of the shoe as well as the back portion. As seen in FIG. 8, the proper alignment of the adapter is achieved by providing projections 64 which are adapted to be received in slots es formed in two of the fingers 48 of the insert 40. In addition, the adapters are provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive of any desired type, such as that conventionally used on adhesive tape or cellophane tape, and in order to protect the adhesive, it is overlain by at protecting sheet of glassine paper or cellophane which is stripped off just prior to use. Thus, as seen in FIG. 9, the body of the adapter 62 is coated on one side with the adhesive '63 which is protected by the stripable sheet 70. In the use of the adapters described above, an adapter is applied with each change in shoe size and the adapters can be applied one upon the other to build up the sole. They are conveniently formed from any relatively rigid material such as fiberboard or the like similar to the material employed for the formation of the liner 40. Thus, the adapters are of graduated sizes and are used in succession as the childs foot grows to determine the succeeding sizes of the shoe. The adapters can be used individually or they can be applied one upon the other as the size of the shoe is gradually increased. Thus, after the first adapter has been applied and the time has arrived for changing the shoe to the next larger size, the next adapter of the series is applied right over the first adapter. Alternatively, the first adapter could be removed and the second adapter substituted for it. The successive adapters of successively-increasing sizes are used in like manner as the size of the shoe is increased. Finally, the largest-sized adapter is put in place in the shoe over the adapters which have been previously applied, and the shoe has reached its maximum size.

I also contemplate, although less preferably, the use of the adapters alone without the insert or liner 40 or at least without the integral extensions of the liner. In this case, the liner would have the form of the liner 40 except that the integral extensions would be omitted from it and the rear portions of the adapter, instead of overlying the integral extensions, would directly overlie the corresponding portions of the rear tongue extension 26 and would be adhesively secured to it.

It will be understood that various other changes and modifications in addition to those indicated above may be made in the embodiments herein described and shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It is intended, therefore, that all matter contained int he foregoing description and in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not as limitative of the invention.

I claim:

1. A childs shoe adapted to accommodate a growing foot comprising, in combination, a sole portion, an integral heel portion, side portions integral with said sole and heel portions, a front tongue adapted to overlie the forward portion of the foot and to be partially overlapped by the forward portions of said side portions, a rear tongue extending upwardly from said heel portion, and adapted to form a pleat, lacing means for adjustably interconnecting the rear edges or said side portions, lacing for adjustably interconnecting the front edges of said side portions, and a relatively rigid insert overlying said sole portion and said heel portion, the portion of said insert overlying said heel portion being defined by a plurality of integral extensions connected to each other along fold lines.

2. A childs shoe adapted to accommodate a growing foot comprising, in combination, a sole portion, an integral heel portion, side portions integral with said sole and heel portions, a front tongue adapted to overlie the forward portion of the foot and to be partially overlapped by the forward portions of said side portions, 21 rear tongue extending upwardly from said heel portion, and adapted to form a pleat, lacing means for adjustably interconnecting the rear edges of said side portions, lacing for adjustably interconnecting the front edges of said side portions, and a relatively rigid insert overlying said sole portion and said heel portion, the portion of said insert overlying said heel portion being defined by a plurality of integral extensions connected to each other along fold lines, and a plurality of sole adapters of dififerent lengths, each adapter being shaped to overlie said insert and at least one integral extension thereof, said adapters carry ing an adhesive for adhesively securing them in said shoe in superposed relationship with respect to said insert.

3. A childs shoe adapted to accommodate a growing foot comprising, in combination, a sole portion, an integral heel portion, side portions integral with said sole and heel portions, a front tongue adapted to overlie the forward portion of the foot and to be partially overlapped by the forward portions of said side portions, a rear tongue extending upwardly from said heel portion, and adapted to form a pleat, lacing means for adjustably interconnecting the rear edges of said side portions, lacing for adjustably interconnecting the front edges of said side portions, and a plurality of sole adapters of difierent lengths, each adapter being shaped to overlie at least the sole portion of said shoe and at least some of said adapters being of a length to overlie said sole portion and at least part of said integral heel portion of said shoe, said adapters carrying an adhesive for adhesively securing them in said shoe in superposed relationship with respect to said sole portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,104,357 Hassel July 21, 1914 1,248,108 Hays Nov. 27, 1917 1,438,072 Wagner Dec. 5, 1922 2,464,571 Gardner Mar. 15, 1949 2,537,156 Pennell Jan. 9, 1951 2,630,636 Cockrell Mar. 10, 1953 2,835,908 Mott May 27, 1958 2,926,434 Morgan Mar. 1, 1960 2,973,589 Rigsby Mar. 7, 1961 

1. A CHILD''S SHOE ADAPTED TO ACCOMMODATE A GROWING FOOT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SOLE PORTION, AN INTEGRAL HEEL PORTION, SIDE PORTIONS INTEGRAL WITH SAID SOLE AND HEEL PORTIONS, A FRONT TONGUE ADAPTED TO OVERLIE THE FORWARD PORTIONS OF THE FOOT AND TO BE PARTIALLY OVERLAPPED BY THE FORWARD PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS, A REAR TONGUE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID HEEL PORTION, AND ADAPTED TO FORM A PLEAT, LACING MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY INTERCONNECTING THE REAR EDGES OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS, LACING FOR ADJUSTABLY INTERCONNECTING THE FRONT EDGES OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS, AND A RELATIVELY RIGID INSERT OVERLYING SAID SOLE PORTION AND SAID HEEL PORTION, THE PORTION OF SAID INSERT OVERLYING SAID HEEL PORTION BEING DEFINED BY A PLURALITY OF INTEGRAL EXTENSIONS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER ALONG FOLD LINES. 